Moving is stressful enough without worrying about whether your landlord will return your security deposit. In Texas, landlords have 30 days after you vacate to return your deposit or provide an itemized list of deductions. The most common deduction? Cleaning charges. The good news is that most of these charges are entirely preventable with a thorough move-out clean.
This checklist covers every area landlords and property managers inspect during a final walkthrough. Print it out, work through it room by room, and leave nothing to chance.
Kitchen
The kitchen is where most deposit deductions happen. Grease buildup, stained counters, and dirty appliances are the top offenders. Work through this list methodically:
- Oven and stovetop: Pull out the oven racks and soak them. Clean the inside of the oven thoroughly, including the door glass. Degrease the stovetop, burner grates, and drip pans.
- Refrigerator: Remove all food. Take out shelves and drawers, wash them individually, and wipe down all interior surfaces. Clean the door seals where crumbs and mold collect. Pull the refrigerator out and sweep or mop behind it.
- Dishwasher: Clean the filter, wipe down the door edges and rubber gasket, and run an empty cycle with vinegar.
- Microwave: Clean the interior, exterior, turntable, and the area above and behind the unit.
- Cabinets: Empty all cabinets and drawers. Wipe down interior shelves, drawer bottoms, and exterior faces. Pay attention to grease buildup on upper cabinet doors near the stove.
- Countertops and backsplash: Degrease all surfaces. Remove any stains from grout lines in tile backsplashes.
- Sink and garbage disposal: Scrub the sink basin, faucet, and handles. Run the disposal with ice and citrus to clean and deodorize it.
- Floor: Sweep and mop the entire floor, including under the edge of cabinets and in corners.
Bathrooms
Houston's humidity means bathrooms are especially prone to mold and mildew. Landlords will look closely here:
- Shower and tub: Scrub all tile surfaces, grout lines, and caulking. Remove soap scum from glass doors or clean the shower curtain rod. Descale the showerhead.
- Toilet: Clean the bowl, seat, lid, base, and the area behind the toilet. Do not forget the bolt caps at the base -- these collect dust and grime.
- Vanity and sink: Clean the sink, faucet, and drain. Wipe down the vanity surface, drawer interiors, and the mirror.
- Medicine cabinet: Remove all items and wipe down shelves and the mirror.
- Exhaust fan: Remove the cover and clean the fan blades. This is a commonly missed spot that property managers notice.
- Floor: Mop the floor thoroughly, paying attention to the base of the toilet and corners behind the door.
Bedrooms
- Closets: Remove everything. Wipe down all shelves, the closet rod, and the floor. Clean the inside of the closet door.
- Walls: Fill any nail holes or picture hanging holes with spackle. Wipe down walls to remove scuff marks. A magic eraser works well for most marks on flat paint.
- Ceiling fan: Dust all blades and the light fixture. In Houston rentals, ceiling fans accumulate dust quickly due to constant use.
- Windows: Clean glass on both sides if accessible. Wipe down the window sill, tracks, and frame.
- Carpet or flooring: Vacuum thoroughly or mop hard floors. For carpet, consider professional steam cleaning -- many Houston leases require it.
- Baseboards: Wipe down all baseboards in the room. Dust and pet hair cling to these and are one of the first things inspectors check.
Living Areas
- Light fixtures and switches: Dust all light fixtures and clean switch plates. Fingerprints on white switch plates are surprisingly noticeable.
- Blinds and window treatments: Dust or wipe every slat of the blinds. If there are curtain rods, remove your curtains and dust the rods.
- Walls and doors: Remove all nails, hooks, and adhesive strips. Fill holes, clean scuff marks, and wipe down door handles and door edges.
- HVAC vents: Remove vent covers and wash them. Vacuum inside the vent opening. This is a spot many renters overlook entirely, and dusty vents signal neglect to a property manager.
- Baseboards: Wipe them all. Yes, again. Every room.
- Floors: Vacuum, sweep, and mop all flooring. Move any furniture that was yours and clean the areas beneath it.
Commonly Missed Spots
These are the areas that separate a passing inspection from a deposit deduction:
- Inside the oven and refrigerator. Surface wiping is not enough. These need to be cleaned as if they were brand new.
- Cabinet interiors. Even empty cabinets collect dust, crumbs, and shelf liner adhesive residue.
- Door hinges and handles. Greasy fingerprints and dust buildup on door hardware stand out.
- Garage floor (if applicable). Sweep and spot-clean any oil stains.
- Patio or balcony. Sweep the surface, wipe down railings, and clean the sliding door track.
- Light bulbs. Replace any burned-out bulbs. Many leases require all lights to be functional at move-out.
Landlord Inspection Tips
Before the walkthrough, take dated photos of every room. This protects you if there is a dispute later. Walk through the unit yourself using this checklist and compare its condition to your move-in photos if you have them.
If your lease specifies professional cleaning -- many Houston apartment complexes do -- keep the receipt. Some landlords will accept a professional cleaning invoice as proof even if they conduct their own inspection.
For most renters, the math is simple. A professional move-out cleaning typically costs a fraction of what you stand to lose from your deposit. When you factor in the time, supplies, and physical effort of doing it yourself during an already hectic move, hiring a professional team makes practical sense.
Your deposit is your money. Do not leave it behind.